"We're still looking to improve the club," he said. "It's better news than that he isn't able to throw.

"Is it the sign that says, 'We can go home on a Wednesday?' No."

One day after being linked to National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey in multiple reports, Colletti said he "can't indicate" whether the starting pitcher he covets is more likely to come via trade or free agency. Dickey has one year and $5 million left on his contract with the New York Mets, who exercised a team option in October.

Dickey is one of few "number one" starters that potentially could be available to the Dodgers via trade, and their pool of money appears larger than their pool of prospects.

But anything is possible. Colletti's favorite word for now seems to be "patience."